In Finland (芬兰)，a family came up with a special idea to protect their forest: they let people come and hug the trees. Next summer, the fifth World Tree Hugging Games will happen in Finland. In this game, people do three things: first, hug as many trees as possible in one minute, with each hug lasting at least five seconds. Second, give a whole-hearted hug to one tree for one minute, showing care, love, and respect. Third, people must creatively hug a tree for one minute. Then, the judges will decide the winner.
It might sound strange, but the game has a serious meaning: to help people connect with nature and save the forest from being cut down. "At first, people thought it was silly, " Riitta, the owner of a forest said, "but not in a bad way. Finns like to do unusual things and not be too serious, especially in the countryside and forest. "
In a recent survey, over 80% said the forest is important to them. Finland is heavily covered in forests, with over 70% of its land being forested.
What makes the tree-hugging program work well is that it's not just about saving the forest; it also gives a good feeling to the visitors, like a hug does. "I enjoy taking people into the forest and seeing the change in them. The trees don't judge them -they can be who they are, " said Ritta.
